CQUniversity Unit Profile
MGMT20149 Foundations of Business Consulting
Foundations of Business Consulting
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The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

In this unit, you will be equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to identify and analyse practical issues in the complex environment of business consulting. This unit introduces you to the core principles and functions of business consulting and the complex settings within which business consulting takes place. You will develop a critical understanding of a range of theories and concepts that underpin the practice of business consulting, and explore the challenges being faced by professionals in the contemporary business environment. You will also evaluate the implementation of business consulting practices, considering perspectives and expectations of a wide range of stakeholders. The unit will build your knowledge of business consulting theory, and give you a range of practical skills to further your career in the field of business consulting.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 8
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2022

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Research Assignment
Weighting: 40%
2. Presentation
Weighting: 20%
3. Research Assignment
Weighting: 40%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Students feedback (three of the four students were public sector managers).

Feedback

Relevance and practical nature of unit content.

Recommendation

School of Business and Law has put this unit on hold as a result of unit rationalisation due to COVID-19. A further recommendation is not required at this time.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Discuss and apply foundational knowledge in the field of business consulting
  2. Understand and demonstrate the skills and abilities required to be a successful business consultant
  3. Analyse the roles and responsibilities of a professional business consultant
  4. Demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of the range of stakeholders involved with effective business consulting.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Research Assignment - 40%
2 - Presentation - 20%
3 - Research Assignment - 40%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Research Assignment - 40%
2 - Presentation - 20%
3 - Research Assignment - 40%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Business and Management Consulting: Delivering an effective project

Edition: 6 (2020)
Authors: Wickham, L. & Wilcock, J.
Pearson
Harlow Harlow , UK
ISBN: 9781292259499
Binding: Paperback

Additional Textbook Information

Both the paper and eBook version can be purchased at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Malcolm Johnson Unit Coordinator
m.n.johnson@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 07 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

The nature of business consulting

Chapter

Wickham & Wilcock: Chapter 1

Newton: Chapter 1

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 14 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

The consulting process

Chapter

Wickham & Wilcock: Chapter 2

Newton: Chapter 5

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 21 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Clarifying your consulting business model

Chapter

Newton: Chapter 4 & 5


Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 28 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Establishing a prospect's needs

Chapter

Wickham & Wilcock: Chapter 5

Newton: Chapter 2

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 04 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Evaluating a prospect's capabilities

Chapter

Wickham & Wilcock: Chapter 6

Events and Submissions/Topic

Consulting business model Due: Week 5 Friday (8 Apr 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Vacation Week Begin Date: 11 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 18 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Project proposal and pitch

Chapter

Wickham & Wilcock: Chapter 4

Newton: Chapter 6

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 25 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Working with clients and teams

Chapter

Wickham & Wilcock: Chapter 7

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 02 May 2022

Module/Topic

Managing the client during the project

Chapter

Wickham & Wilcock: Chapter 8

Events and Submissions/Topic

Consulting pitch Due: Week 8 Friday (6 May 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 9 Begin Date: 09 May 2022

Module/Topic

Developing solutions

Chapter

Wickham & Wilcock: Chapter 9

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 16 May 2022

Module/Topic

Managing project tasks

Chapter

Wickham & Wilcock: Chapter 10

Newton: Chapter 7

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 23 May 2022

Module/Topic

Post-project matters

Chapter

Wickham & Wilcock: Chapter 12

Newton: Chapter 9

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 30 May 2022

Module/Topic

Consulting as a a career

Chapter

Wickham & Wilcock: Chapter 12

Newton: Chapter 14

Events and Submissions/Topic

Consulting proposal Due: Week 12 Friday (3 June 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 06 Jun 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 13 Jun 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Term Specific Information

Reference Texts:

Newton, R. (2019). The Management Consultant. 2e. Pearson.

Wickham, L., & Wilcock, J. (2020). Business and Management Consulting: Delivering an effective project. 6e. Pearson.


Assessment Tasks

1 Research Assignment

Assessment Title
Consulting business model

Task Description

This assessment task requires you to deeply consider and prepare your consulting business model. Material covered in the first three weeks will enable you to consider the different approaches that successful consultants have used to shape their particular consulting business model. Using this background and additional journal research, your consulting business model (CBM) will need to  elaborate each component as it pertains to leveraging your portfolio of skills and experience in highly prospective target industries/sectors.

This is an individual assessment task.

The submission needs to follow Business Report format and adhere to a length of 1500-words.


Assessment value: 40%



Assessment Due Date

Week 5 Friday (8 Apr 2022) 11:45 pm AEST

Please submit in Moodle (Feedback Studio)


Return Date to Students

Week 7 Friday (29 Apr 2022)

Access Feedback Studio and click the blue pencil icon


Weighting
40%

Assessment Criteria

Your consulting business model (CBM) will be assessed using the following criteria (with marks specified in brackets):

  • Clear enunciation of the Consulting Business Model (CBM) you propose to use in your selected target market(s) and industry/ies of choice (10%)
  • Prepare a client empathy map (see Osterwalder & Pigneur (2010) p.131) for the most prospective client/industry (5%)
  • Specify the essential components of CBM, including your value proposition, that are central to the empathy map (10%)
  • Identify the CBM components that you will provide, those that will require collaboration, and any that will be contractually outsourced (5%)
  • What are the competitive advantages your CBM will rely on? (5%)
  • How will you measure success for the purpose of continuous improvement? (5%)


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Please submit in Moodle (Feedback Studio)

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Discuss and apply foundational knowledge in the field of business consulting
  • Demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of the range of stakeholders involved with effective business consulting.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

2 Presentation

Assessment Title
Consulting pitch

Task Description

This individual assessment task will draw on material covered in Weeks 4 to 7, and supported by the work you have undertaken in Assessment 1.

Your task is to prepare and deliver a consulting pitch to your preferred target market, along with a one-page consulting capability statement that you would leave with a client.

Your submission for the assessment comprises a 3-minute recorded pitch and the supporting one-page consulting capability statement.


Assessment value: 20%


Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Friday (6 May 2022) 11:45 pm AEST

Submit through Moodle (Feedback Studio)


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Friday (20 May 2022)

Feedback is accessible through Feedback Studio by clicking on the blue pencil icon


Weighting
20%

Assessment Criteria

In preparing and delivering your Pitch to your preferred target market or industry, you will be assessed on the degree to which:

  • Your pitch addresses the salient considerations that your prospective client will use in selecting a consulting firm (5%)
  • How you propose to add value to your prospective client (5%)
  • How you have embedded relevant strategies of influence (5%)
  • The structure, content, and quality of your Capability Statement (5%)


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit through Moodle (Feedback Studio)

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Discuss and apply foundational knowledge in the field of business consulting
  • Understand and demonstrate the skills and abilities required to be a successful business consultant
  • Analyse the roles and responsibilities of a professional business consultant


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

3 Research Assignment

Assessment Title
Consulting proposal

Task Description

This final assessment task builds on the material covered in Weeks 7 to 11, and supported by relevant material covered earlier in the Term.

This individual task requires you to Identify an organisational problem, either in your current workplace or a nominated organisation, and develop a three-phased consulting proposal as follows:

  1. Phase 1: Prepare a consulting proposal complete with project method and project plan;
  2. Phase 2: Conduct a high-level analysis to identify priority issues, conduct an analysis, synthesise your findings, and develop impactful client recommendations.
  3. Phase 3: How you propose to provide post-project support to the client

Your individual submission is to follow Business Report format within the prescribed 1500-word limit.


Assessment value: 40%


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (3 June 2022) 11:45 pm AEST

Submit through Moodle (Feedback Studio)


Return Date to Students

The result for this assignment is available after finalisation and release of grades for Term 1 on Friday 8 July


Weighting
40%

Assessment Criteria

Your Business Report submission will contains three parts, with marks awarded as follows:

Part 1: Prepare a consulting proposal complete with project method and project plan (15%); 

Part 2: Conduct a high-level analysis to identify priority issues, conduct an analysis, synthesise your findings, and develop impactful client recommendations (15%); and

Part 3: How you propose to provide post-project support to the client (10%)


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit through Moodle (Feedback Studio)

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Understand and demonstrate the skills and abilities required to be a successful business consultant
  • Analyse the roles and responsibilities of a professional business consultant
  • Demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of the range of stakeholders involved with effective business consulting.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?